Seahawks
Notebook: Lindell gets his kicks with Buffalo

By Jose Miguel Romero and Greg Bishop
Seattle Times staff reporters

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KIRKLAND — Let's be honest. Rian Lindell left for the money.

Who could blame him? A four-year, $4.2 million contract, including a $1.2 million signing bonus, is about as good as it gets for an NFL kicker.

Honestly, though, Lindell wanted to be a Seahawk. And Seattle wanted Lindell, who played at Washington State and hails from Vancouver, Wash. But the Seahawks' best offer during the 2003 offseason was the restricted free-agent tender of $605,000.

So Lindell went east to visit the New York Jets. From there he decided to stop in Buffalo to discuss a job opportunity, and the Bills made him an offer he couldn't refuse.

"I wasn't thinking I was going anywhere," Lindell said. "I bought a house in Sammamish."

But the signing bonus Buffalo offered was guaranteed, proof that the Bills were committed to making Lindell their kicker. "Why wouldn't I sign?" he said.

Lindell, after three seasons with the Seahawks, is now in his second with the Bills. He returns to his home state Sunday when Buffalo plays at Qwest Field.

Lindell is coming off a three field-goal performance last week against St. Louis, and he has made 13 of 15 field-goal attempts this season.

When Lindell makes three or more field goals in a game, his teams are 6-1 in his career. Translation: The Seahawks have to find a way to keep the Bills from getting long drives and good field position.
 
Lindell misses the area. Two of his best Seahawks friends, Isaiah Kacyvenski and J.P. Darche, are here. So are plenty of friends and family, 36 of whom will be at the game.

And news on his old college team? Forget it.

"You don't hear anything about the Northwest out here," Lindell said. "I had to watch the ticker for the Apple Cup score."

Lindell has no ill will toward the Seahawks. The Seahawks stuck with him even when Lindell struggled with field-goal attempts from 40 yards or more in 2001. But they couldn't afford to keep him.

"That's how it goes," he said. "They had to use that money elsewhere."

Punter arrives

Ken Walter kept waiting for another call, another chance. He scoured the Internet, put his agent on speed dial and punted 100 footballs every Sunday. The call came Monday, from the Seahawks, and Walter, who once held for the game-winning kick in the Super Bowl for New England, boarded a cross-country flight from Charlotte, N.C., to Seattle. He replaces Donnie Jones, a rookie whom the Seahawks re-signed to the practice squad yesterday after a dismal performance against Miami.

Walter, whose punting specialty is his hang time, started his career with Carolina in 1997 and played with New England from 2001 to 2003, winning two Super Bowl rings. After one day in the Seahawks locker room, he pronounced the team's chemistry like that of the Patriots.

"Ultimately, it's a solid team with a solid coach," Walter said. "It's got a solid group of guys. I know what teamwork is all about. New England's got it. The feeling around here is pretty similar."

As for Jones, coach Mike Holmgren said, "We really can't afford to punt the ball that way. So we did what we did. I would still hope that Donnie is our punter of the future."

Notes

• WR Darrell Jackson (ankle), DT Rashad Moore (shoulder), DE Chike Okeafor (ankle) and CB Bobby Taylor (knee) are listed on the injury report as probable to play Sunday but did not practice yesterday. Neither did QB Matt Hasselbeck (thigh, questionable), WR Bobby Engram and RT Chris Terry.

Holmgren said Terry was in Florida earlier this week because his mother is in the hospital. Holmgren said he expected him back yesterday, but Terry was not at practice.

Holmgren said Hasselbeck is better. The QB, who received acupuncture treatment for his deep thigh bruise, could begin some work today and practice tomorrow. "That's my hope," Holmgren said. "If you get any farther out than acupuncture ... but look, if he comes dancing in here — whatever it takes."

• DT Marcus Tubbs again worked with the first-team defense after making his first start against the Dolphins. Holmgren said Tubbs should start against the Bills.

• S Ken Hamlin is hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for six families today at 5 p.m. at the YWCA Seattle Emergency Housing Center.